Rahul Gandhi, Mamata, INDIA bloc leaders meet President over CEC row

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee and other senior INDIA bloc leaders will meet President Droupadi Murmu at 8 pm on Friday to press their demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The President's office confirmed the appointment on Friday morning, according to Opposition sources, ending days of uncertainty over the alliance's request for an audience amid its continuing agitation against the Election Commission.

The delegation is expected to comprise 10 senior leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby. CPI general secretary D Raja is also among the leaders expected to participate.

The meeting comes as the Opposition's campaign against the Election Commission entered its fourth consecutive day, with INDIA bloc parties accusing the poll panel of facilitating large-scale disenfranchisement through the electoral roll revision exercise. The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of electoral manipulation.

Opposition secures appointment

Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said the INDIA bloc had first written to the President on October 2, seeking an appointment to raise concerns about the Election Commission's functioning.

After Rashtrapati Bhavan sought details of the proposed delegation, the alliance submitted another communication on October 5, requesting a meeting on October 7, 8 or 9.

With the appointment confirmed for Friday evening, Opposition MPs were scheduled to assemble at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan at 5 pm before proceeding towards Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The delegation is expected to submit a representation outlining its objections to the electoral roll revision exercise and seeking action over the functioning of the Election Commission under Kumar.

Three days of demonstrations

The presidential meeting follows a series of protests by Opposition MPs in the national capital.

On Tuesday, INDIA bloc leaders attempted to march from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters but were stopped by police. Gandhi subsequently staged a prolonged sit-in near Akashvani Bhavan before being detained.

On Wednesday, another attempt by Opposition MPs to reach Jantar Mantar resulted in a confrontation with police and further detentions.

The alliance shifted its demonstration to Rajghat on Thursday, where senior leaders gathered at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial and reiterated their demand for Kumar's resignation.

The Opposition has alleged that the SIR exercise has resulted in the wrongful deletion of eligible voters, particularly among economically disadvantaged and minority communities. The Election Commission has maintained that the revision is intended to remove duplicate, deceased and otherwise ineligible entries while safeguarding the voting rights of eligible citizens.

Meeting ahead of Saturday's protest

The INDIA bloc's meeting with the President comes a day before the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed October 10 demonstration at Jantar Mantar, which has prompted extensive security preparations across Delhi.

Delhi Police have denied permission for the demonstration, while restrictions on public transport and the proposed closure of 57 Metro stations have drawn judicial scrutiny.

The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the proportionality of blanket transport restrictions, observing that preventive security measures should not bring essential services to a complete halt.

The Opposition's meeting with Murmu is expected to focus primarily on the demand for Kumar's resignation and the wider controversy surrounding electoral roll revisions.

While the alliance has secured an opportunity to formally present its concerns to the President, its leaders have indicated that further demonstrations remain under consideration if their demands are not addressed.